2 hours ago
1
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
Bella Cariaso - The Philippine Star
February 11, 2026 | 12:00am
EDCOM 2 revealed that the education sector is facing a dual crisis: a growing backlog in classroom construction and the deterioration of existing school facilities.
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — The country’s classroom shortage of 165,443 could further worsen as around 51,000 aging classrooms are projected to be condemned by 2028, the Second Congressional Commission on Education has warned.
EDCOM 2 revealed that the education sector is facing a dual crisis: a growing backlog in classroom construction and the deterioration of existing school facilities.
Citing data from the Department of Education (DepEd), EDCOM 2 said that of the 329,716 school buildings nationwide, about 122,518 classrooms have already exceeded the standard 25-year design life.
“Within this aging inventory, 51,222 classrooms are projected to be condemned by 2028 once they reach 50 years of age. This looming replacement challenge threatens to compound the existing shortage, as thousands of structures face inevitable condemnation due to wear, tear and exposure to natural disasters,” EDCOM 2 said.
The commission added that a study by Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) fellow Michael Abrigo supports the projections and underscores the need for a long-term, risk-informed school infrastructure plan.
To address the problem, EDCOM 2 recommended diversifying construction modalities beyond the traditional procurement process of the Department of Public Works and Highways, including tapping local government units (LGUs) and expanding Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
DepEd has initiated several approaches to reduce the backlog, including partnerships with LGUs and the revitalization of PPP deals.
The department is targeting the construction of 26,000 classrooms in 2026. It also launched the “Project Bukas” portal to promote transparency in the implementation of the PPP School Infrastructure Project 3, which aims to deliver more than 16,000 classrooms under a “build now, pay later” scheme to ensure completion before payment.
DepEd also rolled out a classroom leasing initiative as a stopgap measure in partnership with LGUs and private sector groups to ease congestion in overcrowded public schools while permanent facilities are being built.
